Mehmood Bhatti

Mehmood Bhatti is a Pakistani French fashion designer based in Paris.

Career

In 1977 he left Lahore for Paris ^[1] However, he soon found employment at a retail boutique, first as a cleaner, then a packager, working his way up to become a gregarious salesman. By 1980, he was interested to pursue a career in fashion and opened his own retail outlet.^[1] Within a short span of time, he expanded his business; today, there are over five hundred designers working for him.^[2] His multi-million dollar transatlantic company Bhatti is located in ten countries and had a turnover of 150 million francs, for which he received a special medallion “Travail et Merite” from the Paris City Hall.^[3]

Awards

On 23 March 2004 Bhatti received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the highest honour bestowed to a civilian. Much of Bhatti’s early life has been documented in his autobiography, Paris Mein Doosra Janam (Another Life in Paris) and the docu-film La Verite Si Je Mens (The Truth If I Lie).^[1] In 1990 he was recognized as best manufacturer of the Sentier, and in 1996 his documentary was seen by more than nine million people.^[3]

References